Click here to watch Sebastian's liturgical wake service.

Click here to watch Sebastian's Mass of Christian burial.

Our loved one, Sebastian Gisi, 102, of Aberdeen, passed away Monday, August 28, 2017, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor in Aberdeen.

Mass of Christian burial and the celebration of his life will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 4, 2017, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Father Grant Lacey as celebrant.

Private family burial will take place at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Redfield, SD.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Friends may sign Sebastian’s online guestbook and also view his service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Visitation will be 3-5 p.m., Sunday, at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake service at 5:00 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour before Mass at the church on Monday.

Sebastian Gisi was born July 23, 1915, to Baldesar Sr. and Theresa (Heier) Gisi in Hosmer, SD.  This is the area where he was raised and attended school.  

Sebastian married Pauline Rieker on October 10, 1938, in Hillsview, SD.  The couple made their home and farmed near Hosmer for a short time before purchasing a farm north of Redfield, SD.  Together they raised two children and shared 32 years of marriage before Pauline and their daughter, Janell Stemper, passed away on October 10, 1970, due to injuries sustained from a tragic car accident.    

In 1972, Sebastian moved to Aberdeen and began what would become a 20-year career in the Maintenance Department of St. Luke’s Hospital.

On October 10, 1992, Sebastian was united in marriage to Rita (Richmond) Hansen in Aberdeen.  The couple made Aberdeen their home, where Sebastian continued to reside until the time of his death.

Sebastian was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Moose Family Center 590, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #632, all in Aberdeen.   He also enjoyed membership at the Aberdeen Senior Center spending time with his fellow card players and billiard buddies.  Sebastian volunteered much of his time for all the many organizations he belonged to. 

Sebastian had a great sense of humor and was always smiling.  He loved being a jokester and always had great one-liners for you.  In his spare time, Sebastian enjoyed billiards, playing cards, woodworking, and pheasant hunting.  He also loved music and dancing, especially square dancing, polkas, and waltzes. Sebastian was a very talented harmonica and accordion player and played in a small band all over Aberdeen.  He was an avid fisherman, enjoying 20 years of trips to Alaska halibut fishing.  The 1997 fishing trip he took to Alaska was a true highlight of his life.  Sebastian also loved the Minnesota Twins.  He and Rita greatly enjoyed watching them on TV and rarely missed a game.

Blessed to have shared Sebastian’s life are his wife of 25 years, Rita Gisi of Aberdeen; stepson, Jim (Judy) Hansen of Turton, SD; stepdaughter, Connie (Roger) Vande Pol of Watertown, SD; son-in-law, James (Sharilyn) Stemper of Hartford, SD; daughter-in-law, Annette Gisi of Yuba City, CA; step sister-in-law, Annette (Don) Thayer of Kingsford, MI; step brother-in-law, Richard (Lillian) Richmond of Junction City, KS; grandchildren:  Melissa (Josh) Underberg and Craig (Ashlee) Hansen, both of Turton, SD, Gail (Ron) Britz of Blaine, MN, Jolene (Joe) Jungwirth of Redfield, SD, Jodene (Jerry) Van Dam of New Richmond, WI, Tamra (Rick) Brown of Belle Plaine, MN, Jeanette (Mark) Hahler of Aberdeen, Kevin (Karla) O’Daniel and Darren (Tonya) O’Daniel, both of Zell, SD, Justin (Natalie) Stemper of Los Angeles, CA, Bobbie Lerew of Aberdeen, Tara (Dan) Esser of Redfield, SD, Carson (Robyn) Stemper of Aberdeen, Chad (Michelle) Stemper of Hartford, SD, Brenda Gisi of San Jose, CA, and Brian Gisi of Orlando, FL; 37 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.  

Sebastian is preceded in death by his first wife, Pauline; his daughter, Janell Stemper; his son, Lyle Gisi; his parents; six brothers; five sisters; one great-grandson, Matthew Hahler; step mother and father-in–law; and one step sister-in-law.    

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Aberdeen Area Senior Center, St. Mary’s Catholic Church or Avera Mother Joseph Manor in Aberdeen.